Ortega: Green groups push conservation, job creation link

Tim Busbey Published: July 3, 2006 12:00 AM

Enviromental community seem to be pushing link between conservation and job creation.06/30/06By Jeff OrtegaCOLUMBUS -- Demonstrating a connection between environmental protection and job creation appears to be a growing idea in the environmental community.Two recent events here in the capital city would seem to support that.This past Monday, the Ohio Environmental Council, an environmental advocacy group, issued an action plan on how Ohio can help fight global warming and strengthen the state's core industries of coal, agriculture and manufacturing.Then, on Wednesday, the Blue-Green Alliance came to Columbus as part of a week-long state tour to spread its message that Ohio's manufacturing industry could benefit if it re-oriented itself to make machinery used in renewable energy.The alliance is a partnership between The Sierra Club and The United Steelworkers.The OEC's report calls for sharp reductions in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions by transitioning in Ohio to no-till farming, coal gasification power plants and more energy efficient manufacturing practices, vehicles, and consumer appliances and products.The group's report seems to emphasize that Ohio manufacturers are well positioned to be a major supplier of the technology necessary to reduce these greenhouse gas emissions.The report also stresses that investment by industry and government in these types of technologies can protect the environment and strengthen Ohio's economy."Ohios productive farms and deep forest cover, clean coal engineering, and manufacturing know-how position our state to be a leader in controlling global warming," David Celebrezze, outreach coordinator for the OEC, said in a prepared statement.The Blue-Green Alliance brought a similar theme: Development and use of renewable energy in the Buckeye State can help create jobs as well as protect the environment.Additionally, the shift in focus would help reduce the use of fossil fuels in Ohio, alliance leaders said."We think we can rebuild Ohio with a green Ohio," said Larry Fahn, immediate past national president of The Sierra Club, an environmental advocacy group."We need a new vision for our future," said Carla Henthorn, associate membership coordinator for Ohio for the United Steelworkers.Fahn said Ohio's manufacturers could benefit from contributing to the building of a new energy infrastructure."Why don't we build wind turbines or energy efficient appliances?" asked Fahn.Some states -- notably California -- have already made investments in renewable energy, he said."It's going to take investments," Fahn said.The Sierra Club and the steelworkers' union estimate that state investment in renewable energy could generate as many as 65,000 jobs in Ohio.The alliance is also pushing for changes to international trade agreements that the U.S. is a part of to place higher labor, environmental and human rights standards in them.In the resolution that established the alliance, the alliance says it"will focus its resources on those issues which have the greatest potential to unite the American people in pursuit of a global economy that is more just and equitable and founded on principles of environmental and economic sustainability."___Jeff Ortega is Dix Newspapers' capital bureau chief. E-mail him at jortega@dixcom.com. Check out his blog -- Capitol Blog -- at www.recordpub.com/blogs/jeffortega.-30-